Refrigerating system and apparatus



y 1943- J. G. SCOTT 2,318,532

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet l Jam-as a swag.

y 1943- J. G. SCOTT 2,318,532 REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS 4 Filed sew. 3, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 ILIZ III I E ITIEZJE May 4, 1943. J. G.- scoTT 2,318,532

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 giwmtoz L r Jmea G, 5 2? sf-sfigtsfsheet 5 May 4, 1943. J. cs. scoT'r REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1938 Iii! Eli/JIM III 11w NTO (iivk ATTORNEY May 4, 1943. J. G. scoTT REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 NVE fumes 5 TOR C i B Y W AT'TORNEY J. G. SCOTT 2,318,532

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1938 9 Sheefs-Sheet 7 May 4, 1943.

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\Iiliilliiiilllil A TTORNEY THE- E E May 4, 1943.

J. G. SCOTT REFRIGERATING SYSTEM AND APEARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 lL;. E 7

4 viillillllfl l/lffllfl'lfll/l'l/lll/yll/fllflllllll/lI/l/lll/ lllllllll!!! II% E E J a INVENQRZ' Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,318,532 REFRIGERATIN G SYSTEM AND APPARATUS James G. Scott, Washington, D. 0. Application September 3, 1938, Serial No. 228,433

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a refrigerating system and apparatus, and particularly to a structure of the character and'nature disclosed and set forth and contemplated in my application Serial No. 561,069, filed September 3, 1931.

The primary object and purpose is to provide a refrigerating system and apparatus having and making use of a low temperature food or material freezing compartment and a distinct or separate food storage compartment to be maintained at a relatively higher temperature, the structure being such that the relatively different temperatures can be varied and can be maintained, as may be desired or requisite.

Another object is to provide a system and apparatus with which heat exchange can be controlled and is accomplished, in manner as may be desired for most eflicient and economical use and operation.

Still another purpose is to provide apparatus and a system by which natural circulation is accomplished and such circulation can be directed or regulated or controlled to best suit the particular conditions of use.

A further object is to so construct and associate the parts that the heat absorbing unit is not directly subjected to likelihood of frosting due to moisture from food stuffs or other materials in the storage compartment. v

Yet another purpose is to so construct the apparatus that parts thereof may be readily removed for defrosting, should occasion require, and for cleaning and deodorizing and sterilizing, for replacement, or for substitution of other like or similar parts.

A further purpose is to provide a system and apparatus adapted for use in a confined space and with which parts are arranged to take advantage of natural laws of circulation to thus maintain a substantially even temperature in all parts of the space or to attain and. maintain differentials of temperature in various areas of the space, as may be desired.

Another object is to provide an improved system and apparatus that can be built into or can be embodied as a part of a refrigerator as employed in domestic dwellings, in stores, in cafes and restaurants, and in other places, and which will permit freezing of food stuffs and the maintenance of frozen foods and other materials in the frozen condition, as well as permitting maintenance of temperatures for unfrozen foods and other materials.

Still other and further objects are to embody the novel improvements and arrangements contemplated by this invention in such manner that they can be incorporated in domestic or household and other types of refrigerator apparatus, to produce a compact and artistic refrigerating box or container, and one which will be capable of incorporating and employing various heat absorption means or agencies, as a compression type of refrigeration mechanism, an. absorption type of unit, or a natural or chemical refrigerant, such as solidified carbon dioxide.

With the above and other objects and purposes in view, some of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and others of which are inherent in the construction and use of the system and apparatus, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection and then pointed out in the claims.

The several sheets of drawings are intended to illustrate various embodiments and adaptations of my improved system and apparatus, and some modified adaptations of the system and the means.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a domestic refrigerator designed to have the general configuration of a buffet, and illustrating one embodiment of my system and apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a partially broken away front elevational view.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical line 3-3 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the absorption refrigerator system per se.

Fig. 6 is a sectional of Fig. 5.

sectional view taken on Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 to Fig. 11 disclosing with the drawings view taken on line 44 I illustrating an adjustable circulating baille means.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified embodiment. I

Fig. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 15 showing a modified construction.

Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 25 illustrating another adaptation.

' Fig. 28 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view showing embodiment of my invention with a freezing unit as disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9.

i More particularly inthe drawings, I illustrates a refrigerating cabinet which is constructed in the general form of a conventional buffet. The cabinet is generally rectangular in shape and preferably constructed of sheet metal, having inner and outer spaced walls 2 and I.

' the inner space being filled with suitable insulating material of cork, felt, asbestos wool and the like.

In the front of the cabinet, large lower doors 4 are hung to provide easy access to the food compartment 5 wherein are mounted a plurality of food holding trays 6. Independently hung above the large doors 4 are smaller doors I which when open give access to the food freezing compartment, generally indicated at 8, and also expose to view the evaporator 9. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the exterior of the cabinet is ornamental and has a large top surface which can be utilized as a serving table or bufiet. It will be noted that the cabinet is divided by central vertical partitions l8 and that the doors 4 and I abut the vertical post II when closed.

Thus it will be seen that individual doors are provided for the food compartments and the food freezing compartments and, as will be hereinafter described in detail, the food freezing compartment containing the freezing units is mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet and in spaced relation from the top and sides thereof so that a constant circulation of cold air penetrates every portion of the refrigerator.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that the absorption refrigerating system is mounted directly behind the refrigerator box and is so placed that it is hidden from view by the extension of the side walls. The entire refrigerating unit is integrally attached to the refrigerator box and is in itself compact and self-contained, the only exterior connection necessary being an electric cable from the heating unit of the refrigerator to an electric fioor Plug.

In Fig. 5 is disclosed a partially cut away diagrammatic showing of the refrigerating unit per se. Numeral l2 denotes a vertical cylindrical casing which acts as an air conducting fiue and this casing houses the majority of the mechanism employed. The lower portion of the casing or fiue I2 is flared at l3 to increase the induction of air vertically through the easing and it will be understood that ascending air currents are created in the casing so that large quantities of cool air are drawn in through 'fiare l8 and discharged through openings l4 formed in the top plate I! of the casing. Mounted adjacent to the casing l2 and in a horizontal plane thereto is the rectifier or liquid trap I6 and vaporizer-ll, while thefreezing units or evaporators i8, which are mounted inside of the refrigerating box, are disposed at a 90 angle to the other mentioned apparatus. The details of construction of these portions of the mechanism will be described hereafter.

The general principle of operation of an absorption type refrigerator, on which the present invention is based, may be briefly stated as follows:

A soluble gas, which is normally in a vapor state at atmospheric or higher temperatures, such as ammonia, is dissolved in water to form a strong ammonia solution. The solution is heated and the free ammonia gas given off passed to a condenser where its latent heat is removed and the gas condensed to a liquid.

This ammonia liquid is run to an'expansion chamber placed in the space to be cooled and the liquid permitted to evaporate and absorb the heat from the surrounding atmosphere while changing from a liquid to a gas. The gasified ammonia returns to the absorber and is again dissolved and condensed, after which the cycle is repeated.

While this is the genesis of the present system, it will be appreciated from the ensuing explanation that the fundamentals have been so modified and improved that a most efficient and practical apparatus has been evolved.

Into the heavy walled vaporizing chamber of generator I1 is introduced the requisite amount of ammonia and the generator is filled with water to the level of the interior standpipe 88. The anhydrous ammonia gas being extremely soluble in water, goes into solution with the water in the vessel and forms a strong ammoniacal liquor.

Mounted in the bottom wall of the generator is an electrical resistance heater i9 supplied through conduit 20 from a conventional volt household electrical light circuit. When the electric heater is energized, it imparts heat to the ammoniacal liquor contained in the vessel I1 and drives off from the water the dissolved ammonia. The ammonia gas thus liberated ascends and is conducted from the generator through pipe 2l' to trap or rectifier IS. The gas enters the rectifier near the lower portion there and ascends between the spiral 22 and side walls 23 to a header 24. The action of this trap or rectifier is to remove from the vapor any entrained water vapor and the spiral 22 acts as a baille to remove this water vapor which gravitates into the collection chamber 25 formed in the bottom of the trap and after passing U-shaped liquid seal 26 descends through pipe 21. This condensed water vapor is in the form of a weak ammonia liquid and it is returned to the system as will be hereinafter deportion of the vertical casing or flue l2 and directly above air fan 3! which is so mounted as to direct a blast of cold air in an upward direction in full contact with the heat exchange coils or condenser 30. To assist in the even distribution of the air blast created by fan 3|, the casing surrounding the coils is transversely divided by vertical partitions 32.

The lower ends of the coils 30 discharge into a common conduit 33 and thence to the freezing unit or evaporator.

The large volume of air which is directed against the condensing coils 30 is drawn from the bottom of the casing through flare opening l3 and the opening l3 being positioned close to the floor of the room in which the refrigerator is installed collects the cool air which is found in this portion of a room. The air having been drawn from the adjacent floor passes over a por-- tion of the apparatus, to be hereinafter described, which is kept cool from the discharge of the freezing coils and, consequently, the temperature of the ascending air is considerably lowered. Thus it will be seen that the blast of air directed against the coils 30 by the fan 3| is sufficiently cool to absorb the heat of expansion in the ammonia gas which is descending ina counter-current to the air blast and, as the heat in the gas is absorbed, its physical condition changes from a gas to a liquid.

The liquid ammonia collects in common conduit 33 and thence to pipe 34 which feeds the liquid to horizontal header 35 which, in turn, feeds each individual freezing unit l8 by means of outlet pipes 36.

The individual freezing units I8 are composed of horizontal compartments with their top and bottom walls elliptical in shape. It is preferable to weld the tops of a series of these freezing units to top plate and to a bottom plate 4| so as to provide large cooled plane surfaces and to thermally couple the freezing units together. This construction is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and shows the horizontal evaporators in multiple.

As before stated, each freezing unit I8 is fed with liquefied ammonia from header 35 and feed pipe 36. The feed pipe 36 being in communication with the freezing units'at a point near the top of the receptacle or unit and transversely positioned in the unit are a plurality of progressively descending bafile plates 43 to provide large surfaces for incoming liquified ammonia and over which the ammonia flows to expose considerable quantities thereof and thus insure rapid vaporization of the liquid.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings is disclosed a modified form of the freezing unit or evaporator wherein the incoming ammonia liquid is fed into the casing of the unit through inlet pipe 50. The liquid spreads out over the longitudinal baffle plate 5| and drips down to lower baflle plates 52 and 53 through slots 54 formed in the upstanding side wall 55 of the baffle plate. As shown in Fig. 9, these baflle plates extend throughout the longitudinal length of the unit and are mounted in alternate relationship to the side walls of the unit so that the ammonia liquid travels a considerable distance during its vaporization. The gasified ammonia passes out of the unit through bottom pipe 56. Units constructed in accordance with the disclosure in Figs. 8 and 9 are mounted in a manner similar to units l8 heretofore described.

- It is preferable, though not essential, to introduce hydrogen gas into the unltssimultaneously with the introduction of the liquefied ammonia and to allow the hydrogen gas to become diffused with the ammonia gas as it is evolved during its transition from a liquid to a gas.. It is a well known fact that the introduction of the inert hydrogen gas permits of a uniform difiusion of the two gases and to thus create a more efficient absorption of heat units from the atmosphere surrounding the freezing units. The mixture of hydrogen and ammonia gases has a higher specific gravity than either of the gases alone and, consequently, their exhaustion from the freezing units is accelerated.

Positioned in the lower portion of the freezing unit is an exhaust pipe 60 which communicates with a horizontal exhaust header 6| which in turn is connected to pipe 62 in communication with an absorber 63.

The absorber consists of concentric tapered shells 64 and 65 and in the space between the inner and outer shells are mounted alternate circular baffles 66 and 61 which present a tortuous path to the gas mixture entering between the shells through pipe 62. This gas inlet pipe is mounted in the lower portion of the absorber a short distance above the bottom wall thereof.

As has been previously pointed out, the ammonia gas generated in the vaporizer ll passes upward through a trap or rectifier l6 wherein any entrained water vapor is segregated. The water vapor condenses into liquid and flows downward through pipe 21 into coil Ill. This coil 10 is composed of several turns of fairly large diameter pipe and interiorly spaced from its side walls is pipe 12 which leads from the bottom of absorber 66. Thus a heat exchange occurs in double walled coil 10 by reason of the countercurrent of weak ammonia liquid flowing from the bottom of the generator ll through pipe 10', coil Ill, air cooled coil H and thence to absorber 63. This weak ammonia liquid is naturally warm when it comes from the generator while the strong ammonia flowing from the absorber 65 through pipe I2 is quite cold and consequently the strong liquid cools the weak liquid. The strong ammonia liquor leads into standpipe 88 positioned in the center of the generator ll.

Further cooling of both pipes H and 12 is accomplished by having them so positioned inthe lower portion of the casing l2 that they are exposed to the slip stream of air ascending in the casing induced by rotation of the fan 3|. The outer end of heat exchange coil H is connected above the topmost baffle mounted in the absorber 63 and the fluid, which is in reality a weak ammonia water, trickles downwardly over the series of baiiles 66 and 61 in a counter path to the mixture of ammonia and hydrogen gases introduced to the absorber through pipe 62.

As the weak ammonia water descends in the absorber, the descending ammonia gas goesinto solution'with the weak ammonia water to form a strong ammonia water which is removed from the absorber through pipe 12 connected to a point in the lowermost portion of the absorber and directly above the bottom well thereof.

The strong ammoniacal liquor passing downwardly through pipe 12 is quite cold. inasmuch as during the period of its passage through the absorber it has had a large amount of its latent heat removedby the air passing through the easing l2, This heat exchange is augmented by providing vertical corrugations in the inner and outer concentric shells of the absorber. These ,interiorly of the freezing unit, is an extension or nozzle I8 provided with a plurality of perforaeach series of freezing units and it is preferable to extend their opposite ends to form a vertical baiiie 84. This bailie extends upwardly to the tions through which the hydrogen gas escapes and passing upwardly strikes the under side of the baiiles 48 which being slightly spaced apart allow the hydrogen to percolate through the liquid ammonia and readily diffuse. A detailed view of the piping connected to each freezing unit is disclosed in Fig. 10.

This ammonia-hydrogen. cycle wherein the diflusion is well known to'those skilled in the art and its use creates a positive circulation of the refrigerant gas and at the same time, while no true chemical reaction takes place, the gases are closely admixed. However, when the gases pass from the evaporator to the absorber, the ammonia is absorbed by the weak liquor while the hydrogen continues to circulate from the top of the absorber through the evaporator.

There is also an exchange of heat units bea Thus it will be seen that the refrigerator cabinet is provided with a plurality of freezing units and, as previously stated, the several units are coupled into a series by upper and lower plates 48 and 4 i Between each two freezing units there is placeda sliding horizontal ice tray 80 to permit a large amount of ice to be frozen simultaneously with the refrigeration of the cabinet.

It is preferable, as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, to so construct the refrigerating cabinet that a positive circulation of cold air is generated for cooling the food compartments.

In the drawings referred to, the evaporator or freezing units are mounted at the top of the upper or food freezingcompartment and, as before described, access is provided to the-units and ice trays through doors I.

For practical purposes, the refrigerator is divided into two major compartments, separated by post ii, each having individual doors 4. Attached to the sides of the post II are vertical walls I. which extend to the rear of the compartment and, as both the right and left side compartments are identical, it will only be necessary to describeone compartment. Positioned directly beneath the series of freezing units is a comblnedbaille and sloping drip pan 8| which slopes towards the center of the refrigerator and the drip occasioned by the defrosting of the refrigerating unit is caught by the receptacle 82 held between the walls ID by the bracket 88. The horizontal bailles 8i underlie height of the horizontal plate 40 connecting the series of units and; is spaced therefrom so as to form an'air passage.

For practical purposes, the refrigerator may be dividedinto two sections separated by post I! and an appropriate partition, each section having individual doors. have illustrated the partitions It as forming the extensions of post II, and the wall of the compartment. The internal arrangement of the refrigerator issuch that an upper or food freezing compartment is separated from the lower or general food storage compartment 5 by the baiiie wall 8|, this battle forming the base or lower portion of a food freezing storage compartment and the top or upper restriction of this storage compartment constituting or being composed of the ice mold tray assembly and the horizontal walls, together with the associated parts. A circulatory air action is set up within the food freezing storage compartment by the vent opening formed by the arrangement of the vertical extension of baiiie 8|, and the corresponding formation and disposition of the ice mold tray assembly. A vent is formed at the opposite end of the ice mold tray assembly, and these vents induce circulation of air within the freezing compartment and within the lower storage compartment. This circulation is the result of the thermo-syphonic action effected by the relatively low temperature of the upper compartment and its contents, and the heat absorption continually causes a circulation of air through the various parts of the refrigerator, the baflle arrangement however retarding and limiting this circulation to predetermined paths to thus maintain the relative difference in temperature in the two compartments.

As indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 4, l

between thewalls ill and outwardly into each' compartment through openings cut in each wall l0 adjacent the bottom of the compartment. After passing upwardly through the compartment and absorbing some heat from the food on the shelves 6, it is directed by the sloping drip pan 8| towards the sides of the receptacle and is again directed in its course by vertical baffle 84 and this cycle of circulation is continued until all of the air in the whole compartment has been lowered in temperature equal to that in the freezing units.

Inasmuch as it is sometimes advantageous to quickly cool food or prepare frozen desserts, a rack 86 is positioned directly beneath the lower plate 4| and directly above drip pan 8i. As indicated by dotted lines, dishes 81, containing foods to be quickly frozen or cooled, are placed on these racks 86 and, consequently, they receive a large amount of cold from the freezing units and also from the current of air which passes above and below them as they are in the direct path of the cooled circulating air. Foods to be kept in a frozen condition may be placed on the rack 88 and maintained at lower temperature.

In the embodiment as above described, reference has been made to an absorption type of refrigerator or heat exchange means, used in In the present instance I' change means or agency may be of the com-- pression or absorption type, or of evaporative or subliming character; and, in connection with this embodiment and the others to be hereinafter more fully described, it is to be understood and appreciated that the heat absorbing means or agency may be of any desired type and character, suitable for the particular conditions of use.

With the adaptation of my invention illustrated in Fig. 11, the cabinet structure 89 is of more or less conventional household type, and is fitted with a refrigerating structure of the compressor type, the evaporator being indicated at 90 and the cooler and compressor structure being generally indicated at 9|. Within the chamber of the cabinet, and below and out of contact with the evaporator or heat exchange unit '90, I provide a transverse 'baille 92, which can be fitted to slide into guideways 93, so that the bafile wall 92 is thus disposed substantially transversely across within the chamber of the cabinet in approximately horizontal plane to thus divide the chamber into an upper freezing compartment at 94 and a lower food storage compartment at 95. The bafiie wall 92 is fitted in such manner that when the usual door of the cabinet is closed the upper compartment will be substantially separated and divided off from the lower compartment, and thus there is no circulation of air between or from the two compartments. The bafile wall 92' serves to cool the food storage compartment 95 by conduction of heat, and the absorber or refrigerating structure 90 within the freezing compartment 94 serves to keep the temperature within this compartment relatively considerably lower than the temperature in the compartment 95. With the temperature in compartment 94 reduced to or below freezing, it has been found that the temperature within the food storage compartment 95 is maintained above freezing, and that all tendency to frost upon surfaces within the food. storage compartment 95 is overcome. Therefore, with no frosting, there is no tendency to extract moisture from or dehydrate green vegetables, or other foodstuffs or other materials contained within the storage compartment 95.

By providing a compressor 9|, or other refrigerating unit. of sufiicient capacity, the evaporator 90 can be made to maintain a temperature within the food freezing compartment 94 at or below freezing, suitable refrigerants for such a system now being already known and available and thus it is not only possible to preserve the condition of frozen foods within this compartment 94 but foods and other materials can be frozen and can then be maintained or retained in frozen condition. While I have in the present instance indicated the evaporator 90 as being provided with openings for the usual ice mold trays, it will be appreciated that with this construction it will be possible to freeze water or other liquids at substantially any location within the freezing compartment 94.

It has been ascertained that if ice mold trays of foodstuffs or other material to be frozen, or, to be maintained in a frozen condition, be

placed or set to rest directly upon the baffle wall 92, there will result heat conduction to raise the contacting portion of the material or article or structure containing this bailie wall plate 92, and I therefore provide a grill or rest 96 to receive and support food studs, and the like, within the compartment 94, and positively out of contact with the bafile wall member 92. In the present instance I illustrate the rest or rack 96 as supported upon insulating legs 91, to thus obviate heat transfer, but quite obviously other expedients might be resorted to in insulating or holding orsupporting food stuffs and the like within the freezing compartment 94 out of thermal conducting. contact with the baflle wall member 92.

A uniform temperature can be attained and maintained within the food storage compartment 95 to best advantage if air be circulated therein and in manner to contact with the under side of thebaille wall plate 92, and I therefore provide an air circulating plate 98, disposed beneath and in inclined relation with respect to the baffie Wallmember 92. With this inclined air circulating wall, it has been found that the air within the food storage compartment 95 is circulated substantially in the direction indicated by the arrows, and this causes attainment and maintenance of a more uniform temperature in all parts of the food storage compartment.

With the structure illustrated in Fig. 12, an evaporator or heat exchange structure is provided'at 99, in the top of the compartment of the cabinet I00, and a horizontal baflle wall IOI serves as a partition dividing the cabinet space into an upper freezing compartment and a lower food storage compartment. This baiile wail member IOI has an inclined air circulating wall I02 on the lower side thereof, and a supporting rest or rack I03 is provided within the freezing compartment to hold food stuffs and other materials out of contact with the baflie wall member. As shown, one or more shelves or rests or grills I04 can be provided within the upper freezing compartment, to be supported by rests I05, or in any other suitable manner. In this way, the shelf space made available within the freezing compartment is materially increased, and foodstuffs and the like are completely separated from contact, or possible contact, with the baille wall member IOI. Under some circumstances it may be found desirable or advantageous to dispense with the support or rest I03 and to employ one or more valves or rests or grills I04.

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated one form that the baflle wall member and the circulating plate structure can take, and in this disclosure, the baflle wall member I06 has a plurality of tapered spaced fins I01 extending therefrom to the circulating plate I08. These fins form and provide a plurality of air conducting ducts to direct the flow of air, with the fins. at the same time very appreciably increasing the heat absorption surfaces. Obviously, the baiile wall member I06 can be employed as either the baffle wall member 92 or IM: and, it will also be apparent that a bafile wall member might be substituted in place and instead of the rest or support I 04, ortwo or more baiile walls can be employed at such elevations and in such places and spacing as may be found desirable. Where two or more baffle" walls are employed, this will permit accomplishment and maintenance of three or more dlfi'erent temperature zones, and the inclined circulating Wall portion will in each instance cause circulation of air in the respective compartment or space to attain and maintain a more uniform temperature.

In Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17, I have illustrated a somewhat different .form of heat exchange structure, inthe upper freezing compartment I09 of the space within the cabinet H0. In this adaptation, evaporator coils III are disposed within containers H2, these containers being filled with alcohol or other suitable non-freezing heat exchange liquid and being sealed. The containers H2 are disposed substantially flatwise against the side walls within the compartment are provided to aid in inducing a natural and speeded up circulation of air. As is perhaps best shown in Fig. 14, these air circulation plates H are associated with the plates H3 in spaced relation with the plates H5 somewhat inclined so that the space increases toward the bottom. A plurality of tapered fin plates I I8 is provided between the removable heat exchange plate H4 and the air circulating plate I I5, so that conduction to the plte H5 is directly established and the heat absorbing surfaces as presented are considerably increased. As the warmer air is taken in at the top into the space between the plates I I 4 and H5, this air will be cooled through heat extraction contact with the container H2, and the chilled air will drop by natural gravity flow to discharge from between the plates H4 and H5, and to then flow out into the space of the freezing compartment I09. Rests H1 and H8 can be provided on the air circulation plate H5 to receive and support rests or racks H9, or

ice mold trays or other containers, so that a direct metallic heat conducting contact is established.

Guide slideways I20 and I2I are provided on the containers II2 to receive and hold the heat conduction plates I I4, and the various parts carried thereby, so that when the door of the refrigerator is opened this heat conductor plate I I4 can be readily and conveniently slid forward to be entirely removed so that the plate can be defrosted, can be washed or cleaned or sterilized, and then can be replaced. Or, a new and clean plate can be inserted in substitution for the plate I I4, as removed. With this assemblage, it is possible to remove the heat absorption and air circulation plate structure for defrosting or for any other purpose, and to insert a new assembly, without stopping the refrigerating operation, and with only minimum time required for opening the refrigerator door tohave access to the parts being removed and replaced.

In the adaptation shown in Fig. 18, the cabinet structure I2I has a baflle wall member H2 extending substantially vertically therein and dividmum. A heat conduction plate I2'I has an air circulating plate I carried thereby, in manner somewhat similar to the association of the plates H4 and I I5, and this structure can be removably assembled after the manner hereinbefore set forth. With this construction, the warmer air in the top of the compartment I23 is received at the topbetween the plates I21 and I28, to be cooled and to drop by natural gravity flow to establish circulation of air within the compartment I23. On the side of the baiiie wall member I22 within the compartment I24, I preferably provide an air circulating plate or wall I29, which is preferably inclined or opened outwardly toward its lower edge to thus attain and maintain circulation of air within the food storage compartment I24.

In some instances it may be found desirable to accomplish a circulation of air inwardly or outwardly in two or more directions, and in Fig. 19 I disclose an adaptation suitable for such accomplishment. The baffle wall plate member I has two air circulating wall members I3I and I32 carried and spaced from the under side thereof, with two air circulating plates spaced apart in the middle area ofthe baille plate member I30 and then inclined downwardly toward and stopped short of the sides of the cabinet structure I33. With this construction, the heated air in the cabinet will rise to circulate in substantially the manner indicated by the arrows, the heated air entering at the restricted edges of the air circulating plates I3I and I32, substantially in the middle at the top of the compartment, and being circulated to be cooled by conduction through the baiile wall plate and the air circulating plate and any thin members or portions connecting the same, so that the cooled air rolls or drops down over the downwardly inclined upper faces of the walls I3I and I32 to be discharged, substantially as indicated by the arrows, near the top of the compartment and adjacent to the side walls of the cabinet. As the side walls will ordinarily be or bound the warmest section of the container or compartment space, this discharge of cold air to drop down along the side walls may be found quite efllcient.

With the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 20, the air circulating wall members I34 and I35 are substantially reversed in their inclination with respect to the baille wall member I36, and in this adaptation the circulation of the air within the container or compartment space will be substantially reversed, as indicated by the arrows, so that the warm air will rise adjacent to the side walls of the cabinet structure and will be cooled and then discharged substantially into the middle and at the top of the container or compartment space.

Fig. 21 illustrates still another embodiment in which the air circulating wall members I31 and I 38'are made substantially continuous and are inclined toward a center to terminate in an air discharge flue I39. In this instance the 'baille wall member I40 is provided with side wall portions HI, and the air circulating wall members I31 and I38 have upwardly disposed extensions I42 and I43 which rise around and are spaced from the side wall portions I of the baffle wall member I 40, these extensions I42 and I43 being spaced from the inner faces of the side walls and the top wall of. the cabinet structure I44. With this construction, the circulation and the course of air will be substantially as indicated by the arrows.

At times it may be desirable to control and perhaps retard the discharge of circulation of air between the baffle wall member and the air circulation plate, and in Fig. 22 I have illustrated one form of means suitable for accomplishing this purpose. As here shown, the baflle wall member I has the air circulating plate I46 associated therewith in substantially the manner set forth above, and at one of the open ends a damper I41 is hinged, as at I48, or is otherwise suitably mounted to be swung to one position to close the space between the plates I45 and I46 to the circulation of air, and to be opened out to any desired degree and extent to control and vary the circulation of air. A damper control rod I49 is here shown as a means of manipulation with a set screw I50 serving to anchor this draft control rod to thus maintain or hold the damper I41 in desired adjusted positions.

As illustrated in Fig. 23, the damper I5I is adapted to be automatically controlled by temperature conditions, and in this instance the draft control rod I52 is connected with an expansible bellows I53, or with other thermostatically actuated operating means so that the damper will be actuated and will be set by varying temperature conditions. Obviously, the thermostatically actuated damper operating means can be placed at any desired point within the compartment or container to be cooled.

It has been found that the circulation of air is speeded by increasing the angle of inclination of the air circulating plate, and that circulation is retarded by decreasing the angle of disposition so that the circulating plate is brought more nearly into a plane parallel with the baffle wall plate member, and it is to be understood that the angle at which the air circulating plate is disposed can and will be varied and regulated accordingly.

In Fig. 24 I illustrate an adaptation in which the angularity of the plate is adjustable, and as here shown, the baille wall member I54 has an air circulation plate member I55 hingedly or swingably connected at one end in spaced relation with respect thereto, as by a hinge pin I56 or other suitable means. With this arrangement the air circulating plate I55 can be swung up or down at its free end to vary the angle of inclination, and any suitable means can be provided to set and hold the air circulating plate in the desired adjustment. In the present instance I have shown an adjusting screw or bolt I51 associated with one plate and an adjusting nut I58 on this screw or bolt to maintain adjustments.

As has been previously explained, it is desirable that thermal conducting contact be established and maintained from the bafile plate member I54 to the air circulating plate member I55 and in the present instance I provide single fins I59 on the inner side of the plate I54 and double fins I60 on the upper side of' the swingable air circulating plate I55. The fin blades are of course suitably tapered, and the single blades interfit between the double blades in such manner that the plate I 55 can be adjusted as may be desired. but at the same time the thermal conducting contact and connection is at all times maintained between the plate I55 and the plate I54. Obvithe parts in the disclosure in Fig 14, and the air circulating plates I62 and I68 may be constructed and mounted substantially after the manner of plates II5. These air circulating plates I62 and I63 have at their lower edges inturned deflecting plates or flanges I64 and I65 which extend inwardly in opposed relation and are stopped in spaced relation at their inner ends to thus provide an air circulating and discharge space. With this construction, the course of circulation of chilled air is substantially as indicated by the arrows, and the air having the heat extracted by the containers I6I, and the refrigerating coils thereof, will be conducted overand in contact with the upper face of the bafiie wall member I66.

In the adaptation illustrated in Fig. 26, the heat exchange structure I61 can be of the type illustrated in Fig. 15, or of any other type-or construction, and the plate I68, similar to plate H4, is held in the slides or guideways I68 and I10, to thus be freely and readily removable. The air circulating plate I1I, carried by plate I68, is inclined downwardly and is so sloped with respect to the wall member I68 that the air circulation space is wider at the top or intake end, than at the bottom or discharge end. With this structure, the use is substantially the same as set forth in connection with the disclosure in Fig. 15, although the circulation of 7 air and the rate of flow may vary.

In some instances, as where it is desired to quickly chill or freeze considerable quantities of material, the modified structure disclosed in Fig.

,, 27 may be employed. The cabinet or container structure I12 has the heat exchange members or structures I13 and I14 on opposite sides thereof, and these heat exchange structures can be evaporators or other heat exchange members such as might ordinarily be employed in compression or absorption types of refrigerator systems, or can be fluid containers having coils therein, similar to the showing in Fig. 15, or in fact can be of any ordinary or special type as may be desired. The heat exchange structures I13 and I14 have the outer or exposed sides thereof substantially fiat and heat exchange plates. I15 and I16 are placed and held in flatwise arrangement and disposition upon and against these inner sides of the structures I13 and I14. By provision of guides or trackways I 11 and I18, the heat exchange plates I15 and I16 can be readily fitted and held in place, and can be removed with equal facility when it is desired to defrost or clean these plates. The plates I15 and I16 have shelf supporting lugs or rails I18 and I19 thereon, and shelves I are provided to rest and be carried upon these supports. It is perhaps preferable that these shelves I80 be made of aluminum, or of other material having high heat exchange properties, and that they be made relatively thick to thus present a considerable mass of material and be of sufiicient width to contact and bear at their ously, other expansible. connections and expedi- Y Fig. 25, the containers I6| are quite similar to edges against the heat exchange plates I15 and I 16. Shelves I80 can be made solid to stop air circulation, or can be provided with openings I8I, or can be made otherwise reticulated, to permit and perhaps to direct circulation of air.

With the modification illustrated in Fig, 28, freezing units or evaporators I82 and I83, similar to the freezing or evaporator unit shown in Figs. 8 and 9, are employed, and as here illustrated, the top and bottom plates I84 and I85 cooperate with adjacent side walls of the freezing units or evaporators I82 and I83 to form a compartment I88. Heat exchange plates .III and I88 are removably mounted in suitable grooves or guideways I88 and carry air circulation directing plates I88 and I8I. These air circulation plates can be provided with supporting rests I82 and I9! so that shelves can be mounted within the compartment or space I88, the approximate position of a shelf being indicated at I84. With this construction and adaptation, the lower wall I85 may be the top of and may constitute a heat exchange wall for a food storage compartment, and one or more inclined air circulation plates I85 and I88 can be employed to direct and stimulate circulation of air adjacent to the lower side. of the wall I88, thus functioning as a heat exchange wall. With this adaptation, refrigerant may be flowedv over the heme plates of the freezing units or evaporators I82 and I83, after the manner set forth in connection with the structure illustrated in Figs. 8'

installation or adaptation or embodiment is' made, the guideways and the heat exchange wall can be made to be mounted within refrigerator cabinets of standard forms and constructions,

and it will be found that in many, or most, instances, the evaporator or other heat exchange structure and the refrigeration unit or mechanism generally, can be set up or adjusted to function to give the desired low temperature in the upper compartment or space.

With the adaptations disclosed in Figs. 14 and 15, I have perhaps stressed the employment of heat exchange structure on opposite sides within the cabinet, but it will be understood and appreciated that heat exchange or heat absorption structures or parts can be employed on the front and back, as well asthe top or bottom, in addition to the sides, and in fact many variations can be made in this respect to suit different requirementsand conditions of use.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a refrigeratnig system and apparatus that can be employed in many types and 'styles 'and sizes of refrigerators and refrigerating possible modifications, it will be appreciated that many changes can be made in the form, construction, arrangement, assembly, and association of the parts and structures, and in the manner of installation and use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my'invention.

I claim:

1. A refrigerator apparatus including a refrigerating cabinet, a transverse baiile wall dividing said cabinet into upper freezing and lower storage compartments, an elongated evaporating unit extending across the upper compartment in v spaced relation from said transverse baille, and freezing container supporting means interposed between said evaporating unit and the transverse baille, said supporting. means having edge portions and a commodity supporting portion surrounded thereby and being arranged within said upper freezing'compartment with said commodity supporting port; in out of contact with said baiiie and said elongated evaporating unit.

2. A refrigerating apparatus including an insulated cabinet, a sloping bailie wall disposed in transverse relation within and below the top of the cabinet and dividing said cabinet into upper freezing and lower storage compartments, a refrigerating unit disposed in the upper compartment and spaced above the transverse baiile, supporting means interposed between said unit and transverse baille having edge portions and a com- -modity supporting portion surrounded thereby,

said means being arranged within said upper freezing compartment with said commodity supporting portion out of contact with said baiiie and said refrigerating unit, and containers mounted on said supporting means to receive and hold material to be frozen.

3. In a mechanical refrigerator a food freezing compartment and a food storage compartment thereblow formed by confining walls on four sides, an evaporator-ice mold tray assembly arranged to provide a clearly defined wall or 1 ceiling for said compartment and a base or lower boundary formed by a. baille arrangement which baille arrangement maintains the low tempera ture induced within the said food freezing storage compartment by the evaporator assembly, and supporting means having edge portions and a commodity supporting portion surrounded thereby, said means being arranged within said food freezing'compartment with said commodity supporting portion out of contact with said baille and said ceiling.

4. A refrigerating apparatus including an insulated cabinet, a sloping baffle wall disposed in transverse relation within and below the top of the cabinet and dividing said cabinet into upper freezing and lower storage compartments, an elongated evaporating unit extending across the upper compartment and spaced above the transverse bafile, and supporting means interposed between said evaporating unit and transverse baflle, said supporting means having edge portions and a commodity supporting portion surrounded therebyand being arranged within said food freezing compartment with said commodity supporting portion out of contact with said baille and said ceiling.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, an insulated cabinet, a transverse baflle wall dividing said cabinet into upper and lower compartments, a refrigerating unit disposed above said bail'ie wall and comprising a plurality of spaced evaporator elements having therebetween a plurality of ice mold tray compartments, and rack structure below said refrigerating unit in the upper compartment to support food containers.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, an insulated cabinet, a baille wall disposed'in transverse relation within said cabinet and dividing the cabinet into upperfreezing and lower storage compartments, an evaporator ice mold assembly having a plurality of evaporator elements spaced in horizontal alignment, and platelike members associated with said evaporator elements at top and bottom to form a plurality of horizontally spaced ice mold tray compartments.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, a

cabinet, and an evaporator ice mold tray assembly in said cabinet comprising a plurality of evaporator elements arranged in horizontally spaced alignment and having plate-like elements associated therewith disposed in transverse relation at top and bottom to define a plurality of laterally spaced ice mold tray compartments in which the intermediate evaporator elements serve laterally on their opposite sides to define adjacent ice mold tray compartments.

8. A refrigerating and ice mold tray assembly comprising, a plurality of refrigerating elements arranged in laterally spaced alignment, and top and bottom members associated with and extending over a plurality of said refrigerating elements to provide a plurality of laterally spaced and aligned ice mold tray compartments in which the refrigerating elements serve as lateral and separating walls.

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, an insulated cabinet, 3, bafile wall disposed in transverse relation within said cabinet and dividing the cabinet into upper and lower compartments,

an evaporator ice mold assembly having a plurality of evaporator elements spaced in horizontal alignment, plate-like members associated with said evaporator elements at top and bottom to form a plurality of horizontally spaced ice mold tray compartments, and supporting rack portions in the space intermediate the transverse baffle and the evaporator ice mold tray assembly to support food containers.

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, an insulated cabinet, a baflie structure including a sloping wall disposed within the cabinet and dividing said cabinet into upper freezing and lower storage compartments, a combined refrigerating and ice mold tray assembly located within the cabinet and spaced above the transverse bafile, and supporting means intermediate the refrigerating ice mold tray assembly and the sloping plate of the bafile, said supporting means having edge portions and a commodity supporting portion surrounded thereby and beingarranged within said upper freezing compartment with said commodity supporting portion out of contact with said baiiie and said combined refrigerating and ice mold tray assembly.

11. A refrigerating apparatus comprising, an insulated cabinet, a transverse baflie structure disposed within the cabinet and dividing said cabinet into upper freezing and lower storage compartments, a combined refrigerating and ice mold tray assembly located within the cabinet and spaced above the transverse baiiie, and

supporting structure intermediate the refrigerating ice mold tray assembly and the baffle. said supporting structure having edge portions and a commodity supporting portion surrounded thereby and being arranged within said freezing compartment with said commodity supporting out of contact with s-aid baiiie structure and said ice mold tray assembly.

12. In a general food storage refrigerator, a baflle structure in the upper portion of said refrigerator formed by two substantially L-shaped pieces, a food freezing compartment at the top of said refrigerator, the walls of said food freezing compartment being formed by a combination of two vertical walls of the refrigerator and two vertical portions of the baiiles, the bottom of said food freezing compartment being formed by two substantially horizontal portions of the bafiles, andthe top of said food freezing compartment being bound by an imperforate evaporator-ice mold tray assembly, said assembly being positioned between the walls of the food freezing compartment but spaced from said walls to provide vents, the food freezing compartment having a rack or racks in the lower portion thereof to support food containers.

13. In a general food storage refrigerator, a baffle structure in the upper portion of said refrigerator formed by two substantially L shaped pieces, this baffle structure separating the food storage area into two sections, the upper section having therein evaporator ice freezing elements extending across the upper part of said upper section, a substantial space between the evaporator ice freezing element and the L-shaped bailles for the storage of food and racks in said space for supporting food containers, and the lower section of the storage area, so separated by the baflie structure from the upper or low temperature storage compartment, forming a food storage compartment for the maintenance of higher temperatures suitable to ordinary food storage refrigeration.

14. In a general food storage refrigerator, a baflle structure in the upper portion of said refrigerator formed by two substantially L-shaped pieces, said baflle structure separating the food storage area into two sections, the upper section having therein an evaporator ice freezing unit extending across the upper part of said upper section and leaving a substantial space between the evaporator ice freezing unit and the L-shaped I dividing said cabinet into upper freezing and lower storage compartments, heat absorption means in the upper freezing compartment in spaced relation from said transverse wall, and support-' ing means interposed between said heat absorption means and said transverse wall having edge portions and a commodity supporting portion surrounded thereby, said means being arranged within said upper freezing compartment with said commodity supporting portion out of contact with said heat absorption means and said I transverse wall.

JAMES G. SCO'I'I. 

